Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for July 17, 2024

On July 17, 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman set up headquarters in Fulton County on Powers Ferry Road near the Chattahoochee River. Late that night, Confederate General Joseph Johnston was replaced by newly-commissioned Gen. John Bell Hood.

For nearly three months, Johnston and Sherman had maneuvered around the rugged corridor from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Although there was constant skirmishing, there were few major battles; Sherman kept trying to outflank Johnston, but his advances were blocked. Though this kept losses to a minimum, there was also a limit to how long Johnston could maintain this strategy as each move brought the armies closer to Atlanta. By July 17, 1864, Johnston was backed into the outskirts of Atlanta. Johnston felt his strategy was the only way to preserve the Army of Tennessee, but Davis felt that he had given up too much territory.

The greatest political journalist to ever put pen to paper, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, was born on July 18, 1929. That makes today “Gonzo Day.” You have been warned.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for a third term at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on July 18, 1940.

President Harry S. Truman signed the second Presidential Succession Act on July 18, 1947

The original succession act designated the Senate president pro tempore as the first in line to succeed the president should he and the vice president die unexpectedly while in office. If he for some reason could not take over the duties, the speaker of the house was placed next in the line of succession. In 1886, during Grover Cleveland‘s administration, Congress removed both the Senate president and the speaker of the house from the line of succession. From that time until 1947, two cabinet officials, (their order in line depended on the order in which the agencies were created) became the next in line to succeed a president should the vice president also become incapacitated or die. The decision was controversial. Many members of Congress felt that those in a position to succeed the president should be elected officials and not, as cabinet members were, political appointees, thereby giving both Republican and Democratic parties a chance at controlling the White House.

In 1945, then-Vice President Truman assumed the presidency after Franklin Roosevelt died of a stroke during his fourth term. As president, Truman advanced the view that the speaker of the house, as an elected official, should be next in line to be president after the vice president. On July 18, 1947, he signed an act that resurrected the original 1792 law, but placed the speaker ahead of the Senate president pro tempore in the hierarchy.

Georgia-born Ty Cobb died on July 17, 1961.

The Beatles premiered The Yellow Submarine on July 17, 1968 in London.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed by Congress on July 17, 1984. From the New York Times:

President Reagan, appealing for cooperation in ending the “’crazy quilt of different states’ drinking laws,” today signed legislation that would deny some Federal highway funds to states that keep their drinking age under 21.

“We know that drinking, plus driving, spell death and disaster,” Mr. Reagan told visitors on a sweltering afternoon. “We know that people in the 18-to-20 age group are more likely to be in alcohol-related accidents than those in any other age group.”

“’It’s a grave national problem, and it touches all our lives,” he added. “With the problem so clear-cut and the proven solution at hand, we have no misgiving about this judicious use of Federal power.”

Under the law Mr. Reagan signed today, the Secretary of Transportation is required to withhold 5 percent of Federal highway construction funds from those states that do not enact a minimum drinking age of 21 by Oct. 1, 1986. The Secretary is required to withhold 10 percent of the funds for states that do not act by Oct. 1, 1987.

The President said he was “convinced” that the legislation would “help persuade state legislators to act in the national interest to save our children’s lives, by raising the drinking age to 21 across the country.”

A senior White House official said after the ceremony that it was not clear that the new law would compel states to raise their drinking ages, even with its incentives and penalties.

He said some states, such as Florida, were proving resistant to the changes because people considered it unfair to allow residents to vote and serve in the armed services at the age of 18 but not to drink in public.

On July 18, 1988, the Democratic National Convention opened at the Omni in Atlanta. That night, actor Rob Lowe would shoot a videotape in a hotel with two hairdressers, one 22 and one 16. Several weeks later, the era of the celebrity sex tape began.

On July 18, 2000, United States Senator Paul Coverdell died of a cerebral hemorrhage. I remember where I was when I heard the news.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia Lottery scholarship funding has exceeded $15 billion dollars since 1993, according to a Press Release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that the HOPE Scholarship Program has awarded over $15 billion to more than 2.1 million Georgia students since its inception in 1993.

“After three straight years of record-breaking economic development, Georgians have more opportunity than ever before,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “The HOPE Scholarship has been essential to that growth by preparing a generation of students for success. This milestone reminds us of that incredible impact and the lasting legacy of former Governor Zell Miller.”

The nationally recognized HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship Program is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Over the last three decades, the HOPE Program has grown to include the HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant, HOPE Career Grant, and the High School Equivalency Examination Grant Program. Each of these unique programs is targeted towards helping Georgians pursue an affordable post-secondary credential while keeping some of the best and brightest in the Peach State.

“I applaud Governor Kemp and members of the Georgia General Assembly, whose steadfast support of the HOPE Program helped to make this $15 billion milestone possible,” said Georgia Student Finance Commission President Lynne Riley. “The tremendous growth in utilization of the HOPE programs over thirty years illustrates the value of the many opportunities for our students to learn and succeed right here in Georgia.”

In the first year of the HOPE program, $21 million was awarded to nearly 43,000 Georgia students. This year, the program has grown to award $841 million for scholarships and grants to more than 178,000 Georgia students.

“We’re excited to celebrate the milestone of $15 billion in HOPE awards to Georgia’s college, university and technical college students,” said Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin. “It’s an honor to work each day for Georgia’s HOPE and Pre-K students and their families. The Georgia Lottery is grateful for Governor Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, and all who have worked diligently to make this achievement possible.”

HOPE Programs are offered at 79 Georgia public and private colleges and universities. The full list of eligible institutions and more information on these programs may be found at www.GAfutures.org.

Governor Kemp spoke to Georgia delegates to the Republican National Convention, according to the AJC.

Gov. Brian Kemp has steered clear of the Georgia GOP and kept his distance from Donald Trump. But on Tuesday he tried to make peace with the state party as he again pledged to support the former president in November.

The olive branch was extended at a ballroom at the Lake Lawn Resort in rural Wisconsin, where most of the roughly 100 Georgia delegates and alternates — some of the state’s most loyal Trump devotees — showered the governor with applause when he promised a united front.

“We’re a red state, and we’re going to be a red state in ‘24,” Kemp told the state’s delegation to the Republican National Convention. “And we’re going to turn around and be a red state when we have an open governor’s race in 2026.”

The governor didn’t gloss over the Trump-driven tumult that has split the GOP. He was a victim, he said, of the “circular firing squad” from within the party over his policies. He didn’t have to remind the audience of Trump’s failed campaign to unseat him two years ago.

But Kemp also renewed the same appeal he’s made to MAGA activists since the fallout of Georgia’s 2020 vote, when Trump and his allies blamed Kemp and other state Republican leaders for his defeat — and vilified them for not working to reverse it.

“We’ve got to remember, we’ve got to look forward from now, today — right now — to November,” he said. “And I will promise you I will be side by side with all of you to make sure that we keep Georgia red in 2024.”

Some said privately they still viewed [Kemp] with suspicion and questioned the depth of his loyalty to Trump, particularly after he cast a blank ballot in Georgia’s March primary even though every other serious GOP contender had already dropped out of the race.

Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance (OH) spoke about Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to the AJC.

In a closed-door speech to young conservatives, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, mentioned GOP donors who pushed him to condemn U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, and her inflammatory remarks.

ProPublica revealed details of the previously unreported speech to the Teneo Network on Tuesday, hours after former President Donald Trump named Vance his running mate. From the report:

“And I say, ‘Why? Why do you want me to denounce this person?'” Vance said. “‘Well, she believes these crazy things.’ Who cares?”

He went on, “Believing crazy things is not the mark of whether somebody should be rejected. Believing important truths should be the mark of whether we accept somebody, and if they believe some crazy things on the side, that’s fine. We need to be OK with nonconventional people.”

– Politico

Third Congressional District candidate Brian Jack (R) spoke about Trump a`nd the Republican platform, according to the AJC.

Georgia congressional candidate Brian Jack said former President Donald Trump’s selection of his running mate should energize the Republican base.

Jack, on Tuesday’s “Politically Georgia,” said U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s military service and the struggles he faced in his Appalachian upbringing could resonate with Georgians facing the devastating effects of the opioid crisis.

“The president has been very clear that he’s proud that he enabled states to make that decision (about abortion restrictions),” Jack said. “I think you’re going to continue to see that echoed and continue to be a campaign issue on the trail going forward.”

Jack, the Republican nominee in Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District and a former Trump aide, spoke on the show about the first day of the Republican National Convention and Trump’s vice presidential selection of the Ohio senator.

The party’s more general stance on abortion restrictions didn’t quell the energy at the Milwaukee convention, Jack said, pointing to the speeches by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other members of Congress.

Jack said he is encouraged by the party’s messaging heading into November and interested in how efforts by candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West to get on the Georgia ballot will shape campaign efforts throughout the state.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced seven legislative districts being targeted, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced last week that there are seven state legislative candidates across Georgia who stand a chance of building the Democratic Party’s power in the state — and five of them are running for seats in the Gwinnett legislative delegation.

The list of “Spotlight Candidates” includes stat Reps. Farooq Mughal and Jasmine Clark and Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, who are running for re-election in House Districts 105 and 108 and Senate District 7. The two other local candidates are Michelle Kang, who is running for the House District 99 seat, and Ashwin Ramaswami, who is running for the Senate District 48 seat.

“Recent statewide elections have shown that Georgia is a true battleground where more and more voters are rejecting the GOP’s brand of MAGA extremism,” the DLCC said in a statement. “From extreme voter suppression and attacks on our elections to an extreme six-week abortion ban, Republican power in the Peach State poses a grave threat to fundamental freedoms.”

“These Spotlight candidates represent the best opportunities to check the power of Republican majorities and strengthen Democratic power for the long term.”

The Georgia Democratic Party is threatening a lawsuit over a recent meeting of the State Election Board, according to the AJC.

On Friday three Republican members of the State Election Board — Rick Jeffares, Janice Johnston and Janelle King — held an impromptu meeting to approve the new rules despite concerns that the hastily called meeting could violate the Georgia Open Meetings Act.

Threatening litigation, the Georgia Democratic Party has called on the election board to admit its actions were improper. An advocacy group also threatened to file a lawsuit. And a Fulton County election official asked Gov. Brian Kemp to remove the three Republicans and the board’s executive director, Mike Coan, who also participated in the meeting.

At a news conference Tuesday, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — who oversees Georgia elections — declined to comment on the board’s actions. But he’s clearly paying attention.

“They’re a mess, and it’s pretty obvious that they are,” Raffensperger said.

In a lengthy social media post, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon defended the election board’s actions and dismissed its critics.

“Democrats are upset because after YEARS of being able to direct the course of the State Elections Board we have an election integrity minded majority that wants to address the very real election confidence concerns of many Georgians,” McKoon said.

The board must still seek public comment on the proposals before final approval. But it’s unclear whether Friday’s vote was legal.

The state attorney general’s office told the board Thursday that the meeting might violate a state law that requires state boards to publish notices of non-emergency meetings at least seven days in advance. Meetings deemed an emergency or a “special circumstance” by the board can be held with less than 24 hours’ notice.

United States Representative Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) will call for an investigation of the Secret Service, according to WTOC.

“We’ve already committed to starting, as soon as we get back next week, with the inquiries. We need some answers. We need some answers as to why this shooter had the opportunity and was this close to the President, and why did the Secret Service not have the area secure? This is very important. All of this are things that we need to know and have questions about,” said Carter.

The Georgia Court of Appeals set oral arguments in the Trump case appeal for December 5, 2024, according to the AJC.

The Georgia Court of Appeals on Tuesday set a date a month after the presidential election to hear oral arguments in the appeal to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting former President Donald Trump and others in Fulton County’s election interference case.

The court scheduled arguments for Dec. 5 in the appeal brought by Trump and eight co-defendants seeking Willis’ removal. The defendants contend Willis should be disqualified because of her romantic relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade and a fiery church speech she gave when responding to the accusations.

When the appeals court agreed to hear the case in early June, it initially set an Oct. 4 date for oral arguments. But it quickly backtracked because of a scheduling conflict.

The three judges hearing what will likely be the most notable appeal in the state court’s history are Todd Markle, Trenton Brown and Benjamin Land. The Georgia Constitution mandates that the matter must be decided within two terms of court, which means the justices would need to rule before mid-March 2025. With arguments being set for early December, it appears highly likely the court will not issue its decision until sometime early next year.

Early last month, the appeals court issued an order staying lower-court proceedings involving Trump and the eight others pursuing the appeal. It subsequently stayed proceedings against co-defendant Misty Hampton, the former Coffee County supervisor who is one of the remaining six defendants who are not pursuing the appeal seeking Willis’ disqualification.

The state Senate Study Committee on Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing was scheduled to hold its second meeting this morning, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

On Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., the state Senate Study Committee on Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing, chaired by Sen. Chuck Payne, R–Dalton, will hold its second hearing in the state Capitol. This event is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Senate website (https://vimeo.com/showcase/9027934?autoplay=1).

The meeting will include testimony from individuals regarding the status of veterans’ mental health in Georgia. The Senate Study Committee on Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing was created to evaluate the adequacy of Georgia’s public and private programs and services when providing resources to veterans. This committee will recommend additional measures to ensure that Georgia veterans and their families have the support they need to thrive after their military service ends.

Legislation targeting street racing is now in effect, according to the AJC.

A new Georgia law went into effect this month that allows law enforcement to charge people with misdemeanors who “knowingly” attend street takeovers/racing events, block cars or promote the activities on social media. The repercussions are similar to those for organizers and drivers.

[State Sen. Emanuel] Jones, [(D-Decatur)] who sponsored the bill, said he changed the language to broaden the scope in an attempt to discourage those who were helping others laying drag.

“No two people get out and race cars by themselves,” said Jones, who represents the 10th district. “They have enablers that are blocking the highways, on the watch, and joining them in these activities. They have enablers that may be recording what they’re doing and posting to social media platforms. These are people that are defined as knowingly present and actively participating in. You don’t have to be driving a car to be arrested under this criminal statute anymore.”

“When I say it strengthens the hand of law enforcement, it strengthens the hand to make those charges against those that are present and blocking, and facilitate these events,” Jones added. “It’s no different than somebody being at the scene of a murder. Did they facilitate the murder? They can be guilty, too.”

But Jones, who has been in the Georgia Senate since 2005, said he doesn’t want to entrap any innocent bystanders who happen to be in the neighborhood. He said people have to purposely attend the events and do things to either promote them or hinder law enforcement. Being able to prove that a person fits those two parts is up to the courts, he said. If a suspect’s social media account was compromised, Jones noted they would be innocent until proven guilty.

Gwinnett County Commissioners support the lawsuit that claims the creation of the City of Mulberry is unconstitutional, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Gwinnett County is offering support to a lawsuit aimed at stopping the formation of the county’s 17th city.

The county recently filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that Stephen Hughes has filed against the Georgia in Fulton County to stop the city of Mulberry’s creation. Hughes’ lawsuit argues Senate Bill 333, which set up Mulberry’s charter and called for a cityhood referendum, violates the Georgia Constitution.

Gwinnett officials, who are being sued separately in Gwinnett County to stop the Mulberry City Council elections, said they too questioned the legality of the city’s formation.

“The county has no interest in defending SB 333 — to the contrary, the county, like Plaintiff Hughes, believes SB 333 is constitutionally dubious and seeks a timely judicial declaration regarding the legality of SB 333,” attorneys for the county wrote in their motion.

“The creation of the city of Mulberry will result in significant monetary outlays by Gwinnett County, not only in facilitating the upcoming Nov. 5, 2024 Mulberry Council election but also in overseeing the presumptive ‘transition period.’”

The county’s motion to intervene in Hughes’ lawsuit is the latest twist in an ongoing legal battle over Mulberry, whose cityhood was approved by voters in May.

Hughes filed one lawsuit in Gwinnett County Superior Court in April to stop the cityhood referendum, but was unsuccessful in that effort. He has since filed two more lawsuits in Gwinnett County to stop the City Council elections and bar the county from participating in a two-year transition to city control.

The latest lawsuit filed in Fulton County, however, is aimed at the state of Georgia itself, arguing the Georgia General Assembly violated the state Constitution in a few ways by barring Mulberry from levying a property tax and by dictating it must provide planning and zoning, stormwater management and code enforcement services.

Gwinnett County officials said they will have to “expend resources” to hold the City Council election, which will appear on the general election ballot, and participate in the two-year transition period, during which the county would be prohibited from making any zoning changes in the area that will become the city of Mulberry.

The county said in its motion that it would be best for the Fulton judge to handle all of the legal issues concerning Mulberry.

“Because SB 333 is presumptively valid, the County does not believe it can summarily disregard SB 333 without a court order,” county attorneys wrote n their motion. “Both Hughes and the County believe all or parts of SB 333 are constitutionally problematic.

“Given the above, Gwinnett County is placed underneath a sword of Damocles, on the one hand facing SB 333 with its material and imminent financial implications while simultaneously being cognizant of the law which should render SB 333 a legal nullity.”

Citizens for Mulberry, a pro-cityhood group, blasted the county’s motion in a statement, accusing county leaders of ignoring the May cityhood vote, and siding with developers who are opposed to Mulberry’s creation. The group previously accused developers of backing Hughes’ various lawsuits.

Georgia’s Secretary of State is recruiting veterans as poll workers, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Macon Telegraph.

Raffensperger’s office will partner with Vet the Vote, a new nationwide organization that recruits veterans and members of their families to serve as volunteer poll workers.

More than 135,000 veterans across the nation will be serving as poll workers this year, Dan Valone, director of Vet the Vote, told reporters during a news conference at the Georgia Capitol.

“When people see veterans serving as poll workers, it reminds us this is a civic act,” he said.

“People trust veterans,” Raffensperger added.

Raffensperger was due to repeat the announcement of the partnership with Vet the Vote at news conferences later Tuesday in Marietta and Dallas, and again tomorrow in Newnan.

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections members are seeking legal advice on handling voter challenges, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections has asked the county attorney’s office for guidance on procedures for handling challenges to voter eligibility in local elections.

Under action taken this week at a meeting, the board will get a report from the attorney’s office for consideration and possible action at its Aug. 13 meeting.

The board action came at the urging of Adam Shirley, one of three Athens-Clarke County Commission appointees to the five-member panel. In addition to the county appointees, the five-person body includes one appointee each from the local Democratic and Republican party organizations.

Shirley told his board colleagues that he wants to ensure local elections and elections office staff are protected from workload issues that could arise from mass voter eligibility challenges. Such challenges have sprung up in many communities in the wake of election denialism stemming from former president Donald Trump’s insistence that he won the 2020 balloting that put Joe Biden in the presidency.

According to Shirley, other jurisdictions also are looking to protect their elections officials from frivolous challenges to voter eligibility.

“I’m looking for any way I can to save some brain cells for our beleaguered election workers,” Shirley told his board colleagues.

The board’s request for legal guidance in addressing voter eligibility challenges comes in the wake of action in the Republican-dominated state legislature over the past few years that has expanded opportunities for making those challenges.

In this year’s legislative session, Senate Bill 189, signed into law last month by Gov. Brian Kemp, eases standards for establishing probable cause for challenging voter eligibility, a move that could make it easier for ordinary citizens to initiate eligibility challenges.

Acknowledging that state law does provide for such challenges, Shirley contended that mass challenging of voter eligibility “doesn’t scale well,” with sheer numbers potentially placing an enormous burden on elections office staff.

Several people, including Athens Republican Party Chair Gordon Rhoden and his wife, Joan, and Mara Zuniga, a conservative who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2022, were critical of the timing of the meeting.

“The optics of this are incredibly glaring,” Joan Rhoden told the board, after her husband chided the panel for considering “changing things in the middle of an election cycle.”

Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman’s office hosted a young boy with a terminal illness, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

On the average morning, Columbusites can find sheriff’s deputies on patrol throughout Muscogee County. Tuesday was different, though, as more than 40 deputies gathered at the Civic Center to celebrate Armon Banks, a 4-year-old boy with brain cancer.

When Armon’s family learned his cancer had become terminal, they reached out to Sheriff Greg Countryman with the hope that he’d make Armon’s dream of being a law enforcement officer a reality. Countryman said he immediately started organizing an event that would put Armon in the shoes of his role models.

“We wanted to make this a great day for him,” Countryman said. “We have things near and dear to his heart for him here.”

The first half of the event, which was in the Civic Center parking lot, included rows of police cars with flashing lights, a red carpet rolled out for Armon and his 5-year-old brother Ashton’s arrival and the sheriff’s office’s gaming truck.

The second half of Armon’s celebration was a pizza party at the Government Center, where he had lunch with the sheriff and dozens of deputies. Countryman said he was thankful for the show of support he received from the officers he works with.

“Outreach is what we do, this is what we love to do,” he said. “These officers are all out here because they want to be. There is a level of support for the cause and for Armon.”

As Armon and his brother explored the vehicles parked around the Civic Center, a deputy awarded each of them with a sheriff’s badge. Ashton said he was excited to celebrate with the sheriff’s deputies.

Gwinnett County Commissioners voted to retain the same property tax millage rate, which will result in additional tax revenues, according to AccessWDUN.

The millage rate held steady at 6.95 mills, the same it has been since 2020. It is above the rollback rate of 6.5, resulting in a 6.92% property tax increase for Gwinnett County residents.

The county held the required three public hearings when property taxes go up, with two on June 27 and the third and final one on Tuesday.

“Inflation has impacted everybody, including local government,” said Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “Holding the rate steady means we’re able to continue delivering the superior government services residents rely on.”

The 2024 total property tax millage rate will be 14.71 for those in unincorporated Gwinnett County.

The millage rate will go into effect on property tax bills in August following its adoption on Tuesday.

Gwinnett Board of Education members voted for a partial rollback of the property tax millage rate, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The county’s school board recently adopted a 19.1-mill maintenance and operations millage rate — down 0.1 mills from the previous rate — and a 1.45-mill debt service millage rate. While the maintenance and operations rate is decreasing, however, it is not a full rollback to a revenue neutral level.

That means property owners who saw an increase in their property’s assessed value this year will be paying more in school property taxes this year.

“The total millage will still generate more revenue for FY2025, requiring the announcement of a proposed property tax increase,” school system officials said in a statement. “However, taxpayers whose property values have not increased due to reassessment will see no increase in their school tax bill.”

District officials previously announced the millage rate, despite declining, would still raise property taxes by 4.54%.

In a nutshell, property owners can expect to see the school-related portion of their tax bill increase by more than $100.

District officials said, for example, that a homeowner whose home has a fair market value of $425,000 will likely be paying about $138 more in school taxes.

And, someone who owns a non-homestead exemption eligible property that has a fair market value of $550,000 is expected to see their school taxes increase by about $183.

The new school millage rates — which are separate from millage rates levied by the county government and city governments — were adopted last week after three public hearings.

District officials said the millage rate will help pay for GCPS’ $3.2 billion fiscal year 2025 budget.

Hall County Board of Education members voted for a property tax millage rate higher than the full rollback, according to AccessWDUN.

The Hall County Board of Education approved the FY2025 budget and set the millage rate at Monday’s meeting.

The new millage rate was set at 14.99 mills, 0.65 lower than last year but still a 3.48% property tax increase for residents according to Superintendent Will Schofield.

“I think the greatest misconception was that we weren’t going to lower the millage rate,” Schofield said. “We said from day one we were going to advertise it at the current and we have every intention of lowering it and that’s what we did.”

Roughly 50 citizens showed up to the meeting, with nearly 20 speaking. The main point of contention for citizens was the property tax increase for residents.

Schofield did make it a point to mention that as of the most recent numbers (FY2023), Hall County spends $10,569 per-pupil. This is below the state average of $11,414 per-pupil.

“You can’t spend like drunken sailors and be $900 below the state average at the same time,” Schofield said.

The budget went from $344.2 million to $350.8 million, a 1.93% increase.

Some of the “large item” expenditures came from $2,500 certified raises and $1,000 classified raises, totalling $8 million. Health insurance premium increases totalled $6.2 million, which Schofield said could not be helped as the state tells the school systems which health insurance to get.

Drew Echols, who is in line to take over as State Senator for District 49 which encompasses Hall County, also spoke at the meeting, citing the importance of maintaining the agriculture program in Hall County schools.

“If we don’t train someone to feed this country, it’s going to be Mexico and China,” Echols said. “It’s a matter of food security and food security is national security and paying for it sometimes hurts.”

The approved budget will go into effect immediately after the adoption on Monday night.

Some Columbia County property owners are upset over rising property taxes, according to WRDW.

Some locals are unhappy after the Columbia County Board of Commissioners tentatively proposed a millage rate that will increase taxes by almost 5%.

Millage rates are used in tax calculations to determine the total value you pay in taxes on your bill.

The higher the millage rate, the more you will pay in taxes.

This also applies to overall property value.

The more property values increase, the more you will pay in taxes, as well.

With the millage rate the commission is proposing, a home with a value of $225,000 will see a $20.43 increase from the tentative millage rate.

Of course, that’s a pretty low estimate for the average value of a home in booming Columbia County.

But some Columbia County residents aren’t happy about it.

“It was pretty staggering,” said Adam Pankow, Columbia County resident.

Morgan Aune, chief appraiser for the Columbia County Tax Assessor’s Office, says all the construction and growth of real estate in our region has driving property values up.

That’s why a lot of people are unhappy with their most recent property assessment.

“If the value of the house or property in general is increasing, then that’s going to make the tax bill go up. If they don’t change the millage rate, and your value goes up, you’re gonna pay more taxes, if you know, the value goes up in the middle is like it’s lowered, you could pay the same or less taxes, theoretically,” said Aune.

He said the impacts of COVID were also a contributor, but since there is now enough infrastructure to meet demand, he anticipates prices and values to settle down a little.

If you’re unhappy with your property assessment in Columbia County, you can appeal it.

The County Board of Commission hosted a meeting on Tuesday night. There will be two more meetings on July 23 and august 6 before they approve a final millage rate.

The Valdosta Ethics Complaint Board heard allegations against against City Council member Vivian Miller-Cody, according to WALB.

Anetra Riley, who filed the complaint against City Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody in May 2024, presented her case of alleged misconduct by the councilwoman.

The board addressed concerns about the misappropriation of funds within the Neighborhood Development and Community Protection department, which is managed by Riley. In a rebuttal, Miller-Cody said she allegedly acted on behalf of citizens when making decisions within the department.

“We want the public to know that all of their concerns will be heard if they are valid and we want to make sure that the best interest of all citizens in Valdosta is top priority,” Ethics Complaint Board Member JD Rice said.

“We’ve concluded that complaint has some basis. It is not frivolous, portions is meritorious,” [Ethics Complaint Board Chair Roy] Copeland said.

The review board will meet publicly in seven days to present their final decision.

Bulloch County Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution that will allow the Development Authority to issue $13 million dollars in bonds, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Bulloch County commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday allowing the Development Authority of Bulloch County, or DABC, to issue up to $13 million worth off tax-exempt bonds on behalf of Statesboro STEAM Academy to finance construction of its all-new school facility.

The motion by Commissioner Anthony Simmons, seconded by Commissioner Timmy Rushing and approved on a 5-0 vote of the board came after assurances from County Attorney Jeff Akins and the DABC’s attorney Stephen Rushing, as well as in the printed resolution, that county taxpayers will not be on the hook to repay the bonds under any circumstances. Instead, the nonprofit corporation Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology Inc., doing business as Statesboro STEAM, will be obligated to repay bond purchasers the principal, not to exceed $13 million, plus interest.

“It is a quirk of federal tax law that simply requires approval of the chief elected official of the local jurisdiction in order for the bonds to be tax-exempt,” Akins said. “And one thing that I would emphasize is that this is not going to be an obligation of the county or the state or the city or any other government jurisdiction. The bonds will be solely paid from the revenue generated by the STEAM Academy.”

The written resolution states that “the proposed Bonds will not be paid from taxes, but will be payable by the Issuer solely from amounts to be paid or provided by the Company,” meaning the nonprofit corporation.

Speaking for the DABC, Rushing said that it is “a statutory development authority … permitted to issue bonds to finance certain projects that promote employment and the general welfare of our county.”

Brunswick City Commissioners voted to request the city transit agency to operate outside city limits, according to The Brunswick News.

The city is sending a formal request to the Glynn County Commission for permission to operate a public transit system outside its municipal limits.

The agreement seeks permission for City Hall to operate a “micro-transit” system outside the city limits. It does not commit either party to operate a public transportation program or make financial commitments.

County commissioners reviewed and deferred an identical agreement at a meeting on June 20, questioning whether they would be committing funding.

The proposed transit service has been compared to a ride-share system like Uber.

For the first year, it will be funded by federal grants. Once approved by the county, the city can begin soliciting proposals for “turn-key” microtransit services.

Ideally, the city wants to follow in Valdosta’s footsteps by hiring a contractor to manage the system, including staffing, sourcing a vehicle fleet and providing a way to book rides via phone calls and smartphone app.

The contract approved by city commissioners Monday was effectively a procedural requirement imposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Most of the funding to get the transit program off the ground is coming from a U.S. Department of Transportation grant administered by the state agency.

Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins told County Commissioners his office is over budget, according to The Brunswick News.

The Brunswick Judicial Circuit is over budget by more than $888,000 and District Attorney Keith Higgins is asking for help.

Higgins made a presentation during Tuesday’s special-called Glynn County Commission meeting to explain why his office is asking for help.

He asked the county for more than $362,000 for his department’s supplemental budget, which is in addition to the $1.3 million approved by the county for the fiscal year that began July 1.

The problem began when three new employees were hired to help alleviate the caseload among prosecutors in January. He was unaware that there wasn’t enough money to meet payroll, he said.

“Had I known in December we didn’t have the money to make payroll, I wouldn’t have hired the assistant district attorneys,” he said. “I thought the money was available. I trusted staff with the situation at hand at the time.”

Higgins said he came up with the $362,000 figure based on Glynn County having 41% of the five-county judicial circuit’s population.

He pointed out the counties where extra personnel were hired, including Glynn, have benefited from the extra prosecutors helping to resolve cases. It costs $48.50 a day to house an inmate in Glynn County, so the faster a case is resolved, the better it is for taxpayers, he said.

Higgins proposed opening his books to the county finance department and to allow the county to serve as his office’s fiscal agent.

County Finance Director Tamara Munson said it would not be difficult for her staff to help, but a memorandum of understanding would have to be required and a financial audit to determine funding sources. Any requests for funds under an agreement with the county would have to come from an approved employee, she said.

Other counties in the circuit are Camden, Appling, Wayne and Jeff Davis.

The Lowndes County School Nutrition Program announced that all students will be eligible for free lunches, according to WALB.

Superintendent Sandra Wilcher says, “Lowndes County Schools recognizes the importance of nourishment for both the body and mind. Providing free meals to all students ensures they can focus on learning and growth without hunger as a distraction. It is our goal to provide a place where every child’s potential can flourish while we work to overcome any obstacle that may stand in the way.”

65% of students system-wide eat school lunch daily. Each school’s cafeteria works hard to produce delicious and nutritious meals.

Donna Hendley, School Nutrition Director says, “We adhere to USDA guidelines when planning our menus, The food is high quality, and twenty percent of each plate has Georgia-grown food.”

Lowndes County Schools is proud to support the whole child and looks forward to delivering the same great meals at no cost to families.

Terrell County schools will ban most consumer electronics in classes, according to WALB.

Terrell County High School announces that no cell phones will be allowed in the classroom this upcoming school year.

In a letter posted to their Facebook, Dr. Vivian shares that this decision was made by the High School Governance Team, and the decision was made to ensure a safe and distraction free environment for all students.

The Facebook post lays out the procedure that will be followed. It says that all cell phones will be given to the teacher at the beginning of class. The phones will be stored in a locked container during class. At the end of the class period, all phones will be returned to students.

In the case of an emergency, students will be allowed to use the phone in the main office. Parents and guardians will be able to reach their students through the main office phone.

Terrell County High School says they are “not responsible for electronic devices brought to campus”. This policy also applies to smart watches, iPads, Beats, and other related devices.

Exceptions will be made for students with certain medical needs.

Athens City Hall will see higher security after a disturbance in a council meeting, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

New security procedures went into effect this week at Athens City Hall, making the venue a weapons-free facility.

The changes came as Athens-Clarke County’s mayor and commission geared up for Tuesday’s return of their regular meetings to the building following an April incident in the commission chambers.

At the commission’s crowded April 2 meeting, 55-year-old self-proclaimed local messianic Jew “rabbi” Richard Camden Pace had to be physically restrained, wrestled to the floor and tased by a police officer. An Athens-Clarke County police officer is routinely assigned to meetings in the commission chambers.

The April 2 incident came after a previous tense commission meeting where Mayor Kelly Girtz and other local officials were loudly threatened with recall elections. The calls came following the February death of 22-year-old Athens nursing student Laken Riley, for which 26-year-old undocumented Venezuelan immigrant has been charged with murder.

The commission moved most of its May and June meetings to the nearby Clarke County School District headquarters amid discussion of boosting security at City Hall. The new Athens-Clarke County budget approved last month included funding to meet that goal. Commissioners have been on an informal holiday, largely free of meetings, since mid-June.

As of Monday, according to a news release from the local government, all visitors to City Hall during regular business hours must enter through a security checkpoint at the 301 College Avenue building’s ground level entrance facing College Avenue. Regular hours at City Hall are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Security screenings will also take place for public meetings in City Hall outside regular business hours. “For meetings that involve a quorum of the Mayor and Commission, the ground floor ADA-accessible entrance will remain open, while an additional security screening entrance will also be provided on the second-floor entrance to City Hall on College Avenue as staffing permits,” the government noted in the news release. “Additional entrances may be opened for screenings based on circumstances and the availability of security personnel.”